WHATEVER YOU DO - DO NOT GO TO AMBERGRIS CAYE. IT IS TERRIBLE!!! ROACHES THE SIZE OF SMALL KITTENS EVERYWHERE!!! CAN'T DRINK THE WATER!!! THE HURRICANE WIPED OUT EVERYTHING!!! THE LOCALS HATE GRINGOS FROM THE STATES!!! Okay, sorry but I had to do that to discourage anyone who may have floated over from "Temptation Island". Call me selfish but I can't bear the thought of the word getting out anymore than it already has. I first went to AC when I was a child in the late 70's early 80's, back when Celi's and Ruby's were virtually the only lodging places around and there was no such thing as "south" and "north" island. Man how things have changed! My wife and I just returned from a week in AC. Needless to say we are both experiencing extreme symptoms of withdrawal. We stayed at Banana Beach - an excellent, well-run operation. The front desk staff, Sandra and Julie, were both wonderful - in fact everyone was so friendly. I was a little caught off guard by the mosquitos, but I guess I should have paid more attention to the board. Mostly we did a little fishing and snorkeling and a lot of laying around. Enjoyed Celi's, Elvi's and the Jerk Pit (great jerked chicken). Also had great experience at Tropica which was our regular breakfast stop. One morning the staff fried our previous day's catch for breakfast - mmmmm. Food was good at El Patio, but we eventually became the main course for the mosquitos so we had to bail on that one. BIG THANKS to Lan Sluder for the advice and Judy Quam at Close Encounters who arranged our trip and was extremely helpful with some last minute changes we had to make in our itinerary. TWO QUESTIONS FOR READERS: 1) Anyone have experiences renting large houses either North or South? We are planning a large party for February 02 and I'd love to hear feedback.2) Anyone have contact information for a guide by the name of "Pete" (sorry no last name) who captains 'Free at Last'. I saw him while I was down there but didn't get a chance to talk to him and would really like to get in touch with him.

Casa Manana and Casa Tortuga are two lovely large beachfront homes to the south. Sunrise Sunet, to the North about 4 miles is large, beautiful and with a beachfront in-ground pool. Please check out www.ambergriscaye.com/seaside/ We're be happy to assist!